Erte - Romain de Tirtoff

Conte Hindou En Blanc By Erté

1922

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 | Russian-French Costume Oriental Signed “Erté”(lower right) Inscribed "No. 19" (en verso) Gouache on paper Titled Costume Oriental, this ensemble epitomizes Erté's signature fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetic elements. The attire features grey pantaloons enveloped by a vivid red skirt adorned with intricate white Orientalist motifs. The bodice, a geometric tapestry of black and white stripes, is composed of narrow horizontal black bands juxtaposed with glittering gemstones. This visual harmony is accentuated by a trio of diamond shapes vertically aligned on the chest. The crowning element is a gem-encrusted turban, surmounted by three red fan shapes, lending the headpiece the appearance of a striking medallion. This sartorial masterpiece is an authentic Erté creation for the 1926 rendition of George White's Scandals, staged at the Heilig Theatre in Portland, Oregon. The revue initially debuted at the Apollo Theatre in New York City on June 30, 1924, enjoying a run of 196 performances before embarking on a tour. Orchestrated by George White from 1919 to 1939, the Scandals series distinguished itself through its timely comedy and exceptional choreography, a testament to White's expertise as a dancer. In contrast to the more lavish Ziegfeld Follies,Scandals offered a streamlined yet sophisticated experience. The Sixth Edition was particularly remarkable for its artistic collaborations: Erté designed the scenery and curtains, while George Gershwin composed the musical score, which included the classic "Somebody Loves Me." The production featured an ensemble of notable performers, including Nyra Brown and the Leeland Sisters. The artist, Russian-French visionary Romain de Tirtoff (1892-1990), popularly known as Erté, began his artistic journey in the culturally rich city of St. Petersburg, where he developed an early fondness for ballet and theatrical performances. He moved to Paris in 1912 to study architecture, and quickly found his creative niche in crafting fantastical costumes for the city’s bustling nightlife. Erté‘s expertise, refined under the guidance of the famed Paul Poiret, captured the attention of Harper’s Bazaar, marking the beginning of a significant partnership that spanned from 1915 to 1936. The artist also designed sets for notable cinematic masterpieces including Ben Hur and La Bohème, and created sets and costumes for cabarets, operas and other performances at the Folies-Bergères, Bal Tabarin, the Théâtre du Bataclan and Le Casino de Paris. Often remembered as the “Father of Art Deco,” Erté was a trailblazer whose colorful creations shaped the groundbreaking Art Deco era more than any other, leaving an indelible mark on the history of art and design. His artworks reside in prestigious museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Painted 1926 Paper: 12“ high x 9 wide Frame: 19 1/4“ high x 16 1/8” wide x 5/8" deep Exhibitions: M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté and the Era of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 - January 3, 2024 Provenance: Private collection, Paris Christie's South Kensington: Sale, 2014 Bouret Gonzalez Collection Sydney and Sibyl Colefax...

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 | Russian-French Salade de fleurs de lotus (Lotus Flower Salad) Inscribed “n°1.497” (en verso) Gouache on paper In 1929, Erté embarked on the cr...

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Mistinguett Signed "Erté" (lower right) Stamped "Composition originale" (en verso) Gouache on paper Erté designed this costume fo...

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Mah-Jongg Signed "Erté" (lower right) Inscribed "No. 363" (en verso) Gouache and gold on paper Erté's artful depiction in gold...

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 | Russian-French Le roi de Lahore (The King of Lahore) Signed “Erté” (lower right) Inscribed "Les Rois des Légendes / No. 11 / Le Roi de Lahore /...

Erté (Romain de Tirtoff) 1892-1990 Russian-French Les Fleurs (The flowers) Signed "Erté" (lower right) Inscribed "No. 362" (en verso) Gouache on paper Erté masterfully designs an...

A rare original signed Art Deco gouache on paper by Erte (Romain de Tirtoff) . This stunning theatrical costume design is signed Erte at the lower right. The piece is 20 by 18 fram...

The paper in some of these photos looks overly textured due to the sharpness of the high-res digital camera. In person, with the human eye, the paper looks reasonably smooth with out blemishes. For this fashion illustration, Georges Lepape paints a stunning abstract pattern for the subject dress that is repeated in her hair. The work represents an early use of metallic paint, with silver metallic in the dress and bronze metallic in the blouse. Lepape's highly detailed drawing becomes more evident the closer you look. It's quite amazing how deftly he rendered facial feature on such a small scale. "Eva" 1918 Gouache, watercolor, and ink on paper Signed and dated, lower right: '1918' Inscribed, verso: "Costume for L'enfantement du mort, (miracle en pourpre, et or.). Devised by Marcel L'Herbier and performed at the Théatre Edouard VII and the Comédie des Champs-Elysées, 1919" Provenance: Ex-collection Lucien...

An early 20th Century Art Deco gouache portrait of a gentleman in hunting attire with his dog, by P Giubbini. The work is signed bottom right, titled top left 'Preussischer Landjuncker' and presented in a plain period wood frame under glass. A wonderful character portrait of a man preparing to go out with his hound dog, a Preussischer Landjuncker or bulldog. He is nonchalantly standing with his hands in his pockets. Wearing breeches, hunting coat...

Pair of early 20th Century Art Deco gouache portraits of two gentleman in hunting attire with their dogs, by P Giubbini. The works are signed bottom right, titled top left 'Englischer Windhund' and 'Preussischer Landjuncker' respectively and each presented in a plain period wood frame under glass (excuse the reflections in the photo). One painting is a wonderful character portrait of a man preparing to go out with his hound dog, an Englischer Windhund or whippet. He is nonchalantly doing up the buttons on his gloves, stick under his arm. Wearing breeches, hunting coat...

An early 20th Century Art Deco gouache portrait of a gentleman in hunting attire with his dog, by P Giubbini. The work is signed bottom right, titled top left 'Englischer Windhund' and presented in a plain period wood frame under glass. A wonderful character portrait of a man preparing to go out with his hound dog, an Englischer Windhund or whippet. He is nonchalantly doing up the buttons on his gloves, stick under his arm. Wearing breeches, hunting coat...

Elegant and glamorous fashion illustration from the 1920's, Original signed gouache painting on paper. Monogrammed V.S. lower right. Site: 10"x 7.75" Frame: 19.25"x 17"